The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

The Most Valuable Teams In The NFL

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans speaks to an official after a play in the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 18, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

As I sit in media row watching Middle Tennessee State upset Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in St. Louis at the Scottrade Center, I was reviewing some information from earlier in the week on secondary ticket pricing across the 8 early round pods.

And it appears that capacity size of the facility is overwhelmingly the top factor driving differences in secondary pricing across these pods.

Consider the data below from SeatGeek on secondary prices for all-session passes to the 8 pods:

City

Arena

Capacity

Sec Price

Des Moines

Wells Fargo Arena

16,110

$587

Providence

Dunkin Donuts Center

12,400

$534

Denver

Pepsi Center

18,007

$515

Spokane

Spokane Arena

14,000

$421

Brooklyn

Barclays Center

18,103

$420

Oklahoma City

Chesapeake Energy Arena

18,203

$419

Raleigh

PNC Arena

19,772

$415

St. Louis

Scottrade Center

19,260

$363

With the Denver pod as the lone exception, every arena with a capacity exceeding 18,000 seats is among the least expensive pods. Conversely, 2 of the 3 facilities with 16,000 seats or less are among the most expensive pods.

Size matters.

The real stand-alone pods, from a secondary pricing perspective, are Des Moines, Providence, and St. Louis. Des Moines status as the most expensive pod is easily explained. Apart from playing in a smaller venue, they received the most generous grouping of teams. Kansas, Kentucky, and Indiana are among the most passionate fan bases in college basketball, and each a reasonable driving distance from Des Moines.

Providence is a little harder to explain. Duke is there, and there are surely numerous Blue Devil alum living in the Northeast purchasing tickets. Arizona is also a blue-blood program, but not likely to travel cross-country for early round games. Wichita State travels well, but not sure to the Northeast.

Perhaps in the case of Providence, you've got interest from high-income college basketball enthusiasts coming from Boston and New York. Or simply just the higher prices one experiences in the Northeast.